Maybe a journal (comments welcome)

[GollyGadget]

You look so happy to be winter running.

 

[flav]

This training plan highlights how much my body wants to conserve energy. I always was better at endurance than short intensity bursts.

Before and during speed workouts my brain screams how much I hate this. Sweaty palms before getting out of the door and all. I can convince myself to do x00 meters at a fast pace by taking each interval one at a time but I totally dread tempo runs. Last Wednesday was a 5km HM tempo and I ended at LR pace. I had no spunk, no desire and no pleasure. Which makes it really hard to continue pushing myself just to stay in shape. I will keep trying but I don’t want it to take all the pleasure out of running. Maybe I don’t need the performance pressure in sports these days. Anyhow, there is some introspection to do… eventually.

 

[jmasgat]

This training plan highlights how much my body wants to conserve energy. I always was better at endurance than short intensity bursts.

Before and during speed workouts my brain screams how much I hate this. Sweaty palms before getting out of the door and all. I can convince myself to do x00 meters at a fast pace by taking each interval one at a time but I totally dread tempo runs. Last Wednesday was a 5km HM tempo and I ended at LR pace. I had no spunk, no desire and no pleasure. Which makes it really hard to continue pushing myself just to stay in shape. I will keep trying but I don’t want it to take all the pleasure out of running. Maybe I don’t need the performance pressure in sports these days. Anyhow, there is some introspection to do… eventually.

Well....my answer got accidentally canceled....Let's try again. Short version this time.....

Anyhow. I totally get this. happens to me now just as you described. Time does get the last laugh, so at some point it makes no sense for me to overthink "Now vs Then", but being human, that's what I do.

I am following a HM plan now developed by Garmin based on what I thought was a conservative HM time. It's fine, but part of me knows I might be able to do better with more intense effort--but is it worth it. As you say, at some point if the pleasure of running turns to dread chasing old fitness levels, then that is not good.

I have no magic answer to your situation, just know that you aren't alone and work on trying to find what will be sustainable/fun/satisfying going forward.

 

[GollyGadget]

You're not alone. I don't mind the short speed sessions, but I dread any sort of tempo or threshold. I have no advice, just wanted you to know that you aren't the only one.